My cat is raelly fat and needs to loose weight?

Question

My cat is a couple years old and super fat i only give him dry food but he is as fat as can be!!! He weighs 20 pounds!! If i put him on diet cat food will he still eat it??

Answer 1

Hi Shelly...generally, it's first recommended to discuss an appropriate weight loss guideline with your vet. Sudden changes in dietary requirements can be distressing to a cat and could contribute to other health problems. Cats who have dramatic caloric intake can suffer from something called fatty liver disease (hepatic lipidosis) which shuts the liver down and is fatal. Therefore, before beginning any weight loss plan, please be sure to get approval from the vet to make sure this will not cause any other un-necessary health problems for your cat. Some cats can be overweight as a result of thyroid problems so this should be checked as well.

In the wild, animals will naturally eat what they need and no more. The task of searching for food and other basic necessities involves lots of exercise and so wild animals remain naturally fit and healthy.

The food available to them in their natural habitat is perfectly designed to meet their needs in an environment that has not been tampered with.

Domestic animals are provided with food which they do not have to hunt for and which is not always suited for their bodies. Cats who are free fed as well as given table scraps are more noted to have obesity problems because they eat out of boredom. In addition, they are often exposed to a lifestyle which contributes to sluggish metabolism, underactive thyroids and livers which are not able to remove toxins or eliminate unwanted fat from their bodies.

Most commercial grade cat foods contain corn, corn meal which are fillers (carbohydrates) that bind the dry food together as a way of keeping foods lasting longer. Try finding cat food products which are devoid of these ingedients. The first ingredients should show chicken, chicken meal, etc. Most show the first ingredients as corn on the ingredient labels. IAMs, Science Diet, Purina, Whiskas, Friskies ...all have corn listed as the main ingredient. Cats who eat these tend to always feel hungry because the carbs don't metabolize fast enough and cats are obligate carnivores so they need a diet devoid of these types of carbs. Products such as Innova EVO, Nature's Variety Prairie, James Wellbeloved (UK), are premium brands. Most cats who eat these find that they do not eat to eat as much because their appetite is better satiated.

Additionally, it's important to schedule feed a cat so you can monitor servings taken in during the day. Each product lists the recommended servings based on a age and weight. For an overweight cat you would be reducing the intake gradually by 10% each week that the vet recommends is an appropriate caloric intake. Cats who are switched from a free-fed diet shoudl be fed multiple times a day (if permittable) such as once in the morning, mid-day, and then evening before your bedtime.

When switching to a new brand of cat food it is also important to note that sudden changes can cause sever bowel distress. Cats have very sensitive digestive systems so the quick change will cause bouts of diarrhoea and vomiting. Any vet can confirm this fact. Cat food should be changed gradually by mixing the current brand with the new brand over the course of several weeks. For example you would take 3/4 servings of the old cat food to 1/4 servings with the new for one week...then the next week 1/2 to 1/2...then following 1/4 of the old to 3/4 of the new in the third week before completing the switch in the final week.

Furthermore, some cats can take off the weight faster by feeding a canned food diet. For some reason the hydration in the canned products helps metabolize food better and are also completely devoid of carbohydrates, which is more optimal for the feline's body. When cats eat raw meat in the wild they get hydration from the fresh meat juices as well as some roughage from the animals who are natural herbivores. A mixture of canned and dry are always best for cats in the long-term, which many people are unaware of. We are have been exposed to so many commercial ads regarding dry food for cats, but in reality it's the manufacturer's who benefit rather than the cats. Cats are not naturally designed to eat dry--the products were designed for convenience for the owner.

Here's an article about commercial cat food; dry vs. canned, proper nutritional needs, etc: http://www.consumersearch.com/www/family/cat-food/review.html

Finally, most cats become bored with toys quickly. It's important to rotate them by hiding them and then bringing them back out again so the appear to be like new toys. Interactive toys are the best ones to use to get a cat moving such as a laser light. Most cats love chasing the light. The goal is to get the cat to move back and forth at least for 5 minutes to begin as some tire more easily than others especially if they are overweight. You can increase play time more if they enjoy it. Some cats love chasing feather teasers tied on a string too. Experiment to what gets your cat moving. Just please remember most overweight cats tire easily so keep the sessions short and fun. Interactive toys are the best ways to get your cat to exercise rather than leaving toys for them to play with. They only bat at those and really don't move enough. Not only does the interactive toys work better, but it's a bonding experience for both of you as well.

Answer 2

20 lbs is definitely too much for a cat. Yes you should definitely put him on diet food (dry).. what most people dont know is that when you look at the feeding instructions on the back of the bag, you go by how much the cat should weigh, not how much he does.. so if your cat should be at 10 lbs, then feed him the amount a 10lb cat should get!! He may not eat it at first because it wont be as tasty.. you should mix it with your current food, and gradually lessen the amount of the regular food until he is just eating the diet food. Also, dont expect results overnight! 1 pound to a cat is a good 5-10lbs to us!! Plus cats are lazy, you cant exactly take them on a walk like a dog, so be patient and stick with it! Give him the long life he deserves!

Answer 3

Talk to your vet before you go putting your cat on a diet. I have a Maine Coon mix that is 26 pounds and she's not over weight, so it may be that you just have a large breed cat.

If your cat is in fact obese, buy it some weight management cat food and read the instructions on the bag. Only feed as much as it says on the bag.

Answer 4

I have the same problem my cat weighs 23 pounds! What I do is I put him on a diet food like you are doing and he still does eat. I also don't just keep the food out so he can eat whenever he wants to I feed he 3 times a day and he eats all of it. I also got a lazer so he would play and get up and moving. He loves it and he flys all over the house with it. Good Luck

Answer 5

I have the same issue. I have a 23 pound cat and a 17 pound cat (one 7 pounder too). They have been on portioned diet food. 3/4 c a day.... Still fat, still not losing weight. No scraps, no wet food, no treats. My cats are 11, 9, and 5 years old.

Answer 6

Yes, as long as it tastes good. However, if he won't eat the "diet" cat food, just feed him his regular food in a smaller amount.

Abrupt changes in diet on some cats can cause digestion problems on some cats, so if you must change his food. start feeding him a mix of the old and new stuff and gradually add more new food and take away the old. Do this over a week or so.

Answer 7

Has he seen a vet? cats can have thyroid problems, just like humans and it really affects their weight! First I would recomend the vet and also i know it seems weird but take him on walks! They have at leashes and collars and even if you have to drag him he will get exercise : o ). Also dont leave food out all day . Put some out about four times a day so your kitty doesnt snack!

Answer 8

Very important - make sure he doesn't lose weight too quickly. I'm not sure if it's the abrupt weight loss or another factor, but cat diets can cause them serious health problems. Definitely have him checked at the vet before doing anything too drastic. A good start for now is to decrease his portions. good luck!

Answer 9

you better keep an eye on him, he may be going around to other houses & getting other people to feed him.
Plus alot of dry foods are high in fat. Ask your vet or pet store person for low fat cat foods, or you could grill some fresh fish.

Answer 10

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Answer 11

a mediterranean diet not only comes with heart benefits studies show it leads to more weight loss than low fat diets